Published 07:48 IST, November 1st 2022
Saudi Arabia celebrates once-banned 'Halloween' with fervour; see pics
The ‘Scary Weekend’ event that took place on Thursday and Friday became meme fodder online as images of Saudi Arabians in ghostly ensembles sparked curiosity.
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Saudi Arabia on Sunday celebrated the festival of Halloween with revelers donning scary costumes as they flocked to the event held in the capital city of Riyadh. The event was dubbed as the "Scary Weekend" and took place on Thursday and Friday on Riyadh's Boulevard as part of the ongoing Riyadh Season, according to local reports and the images that circulated on social media.
The Saudi Arabians surprised the world, attracting flak from the conservative communities, as they celebrated with much fervour the once-banned festival, Halloween. In 2018, Saudi police reportedly raided a Halloween party and arrested dozens of people who were dressed in spooky attires, as well as ordered women dressed up in "strange clothes" to “cover themselves”. Many now believe that times have changed.
Several images circulating on Twitter now show Saudi Arabians going to the Riyadh Season being hosted in the Saudi capital celebrating the once-irked and controversial festival. The ‘Scary Weekend’ event that took place on Thursday and Friday became meme fodder online as images of Saudi Arabians in ghostly ensembles sparked curiosity, controversy, and laughter.
Visitors who showed up dressed in Halloween costumes given 'free entry' to event
The Boulevard was transformed into a venue-wide costume party, and the visitors who showed up dressed in Halloween costumes were given free entry to the event. The night was themed to showcasing terrifying disguises, and scary characters, and parading the creative but spooky designs and props. The event also turned into an exciting one with fun, thrills, and excitement as people, who rarely celebrated Halloween, discussed the stories behind the scary dress-ups.
“It’s a great celebration, honestly, and there’s a spirit of joy… in terms of haram or halal, I don’t know about it. We celebrate it just for the fun of it and nothing else. We don’t believe in anything,” a Saudi Arabian named Abdulrahman, who showcased a costume of the North American mythological creature Wendigo, told Arab news.
A Saudi Arabian Khaled Alharbi, who was also spotted dressed in a terrifying Halloween costume, assured the reporters at the event that he was dressed up for fun. “Actions are based on intentions. I’m just here to have fun," he said, donning his spooky attire as he stood alongside his friends, dressed as a bloodied doctor, nurse, and consultant. He also had a two-year-old family member with him who was dressed as a witch and was seen casting spells on the event visitors.
Celebration of Halloween in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. The GEA of Saudi organized an event called "Horror Weekend", meanwhile celebration of Mawlid is still banned.
— Musa al-Maghribi 🇲🇦 ⵣ | مُوسَى المَغْرِبِي (@Musa_Maliki_) October 29, 2022
Imagine a country that forbids the commemoration of the Prophet ﷺ because it is more evil than celebrating Halloween... pic.twitter.com/gulK99yO8q
Perayaan Halloween di Ibu Kota Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/n9qoRrDbTa
— Mohamad Guntur Romli (@GunRomli) October 30, 2022
Halloween in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 this year … 😍 SIMPLY BRILLIANT !! 😂👏🏼 #Halloween2022
— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) October 30, 2022
pic.twitter.com/quWd14UzZC
ويكند الرعب في #بوليفارد_رياض_سيتي كسر مقاييس الخوف💀، سواء من حضور أو أجواء أو أزياء تنكّرية🧛🏽♂️🔥
— بوليفارد رياض سيتي | BLVD RUH CITY (@BlvdRuhCity) October 28, 2022
احجز تذكرتك الآنhttps://t.co/Ra40CkXmSx#ويكند_الرعب#موسم_الرياض pic.twitter.com/PoqLqiUeJ0
Halloween celebration in Saudi Arabia.
— Cool_Ustaaz ❁ (@Cool_Ustaz) October 30, 2022
Astagfirullah.💔🥺🤌🏽
May Allah save us from trapp of Da*jjal Ameen! pic.twitter.com/hd0eSDU8tV
These images were taken in Riyadh. The crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman, has started to allow Halloween Celebrations in Saudi Arabia, in the name of “reformism”. This is not reformism or innovation but rather dishonor and degeneracy. We do not accept this! 😡 pic.twitter.com/eVyRUSaqUQ
— Ramazan İzol (@ramazanizoltr) October 31, 2022
Halloween in Riyadh (Najd), Saudi Arabia
— Noman Misbahi (@Nomanbinjameel) October 29, 2022
Beloved Prophet ﷺ had already said about Najd: “There will appear earthquakes and Fitnahs, and from there will come out the side of the head of Shaytan.” pic.twitter.com/4dv4xbNWgY
Taking out Imam Hussain a.s commemoration processions are biddah, but celebrating Halloween in Saudi Arabia is completely lawful. Shame. #Helloween2022 pic.twitter.com/OrWvq0qIGS
— Moعis Riضvi ރ (@Monis_rizvi_11O) October 30, 2022
Taking out Imam Hussain a.s commemoration processions are biddah, but celebrating Halloween in Saudi Arabia is completely lawful. Shame. pic.twitter.com/pgixRcurnr
— Hussaini ؑ | اُمِّ موسیٰ | Free 🇵🇸 (@syedda_rizvi) October 29, 2022
Saudi Arabia for the first time in history has celebrated Halloween.
— 𝐒.𝐙𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐚♡ (@zehraa_official) October 30, 2022
People came out dressed up in their costumes and were photographed at the Riyadh Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/lljVAKhlRS
Halloween 2022 in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦✨ #ويكند_الرعب
— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) October 27, 2022
📸 via H.E. @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/jCPzg8ziOt
Saudi Arabia celebrates Halloween
— qasim ali (@qasimali2) October 30, 2022
Holy land of Muslims😢😥😓 pic.twitter.com/O5kBQdmlmR
Arabia Saudí está viviendo una verdadera revolución cultural, de ser el país más extremista que prohibía el cine, conciertos, o cualquier tipo de celebración pública, pasó a abrir cines en todo el país, montar festivales y conciertos y ahora celebrar halloween a lo grande. pic.twitter.com/uUXT7UHMQ8
— Taleb Alisalem (@TalebSahara) October 30, 2022
Look at the backlash towards muslims in Saudi Arabia from their own community for celebrating halloween. This is the "unity" we fear across the world. SMH...Look at the pics and there's a video too. pic.twitter.com/9mBTIQ5UCl
— Kaiser Soze (@Kaiser666Soze) October 31, 2022
07:48 IST, November 1st 2022